#1,263: Cucumber and Tomato Salad

This recipe is so super easy and although I don't totally love cucumbers, I really loved this side dish.  It was so good and the olives really give it a great (slightly salty) flavor.  It's not overpowering though.  I will definitely make this again.  I think this would be good chopped a little finer served on bruchetta too!  :)

1 clove garlic, minced
1 c Kalmata olvies
1 tbsp fresh basil, thinly sliced
1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
2 c cucumbers, peeled and diced
2 c grape tomatoes (I quartered mine)
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp black pepper


Toss all ingredients together in a medium bowl.  Mix well to combine.

#1,262: Taco Beef Bake with Cheddar Biscuit Topping

The first thing you might notice is that there is no "cheddar" in the biscuits pictured above.  You would be correct!  I was out of cheddar (I swear there was some in the drawer when I went to the grocery store) so I had to use mozzarella.  It totally changed the taste of this, and cheddar would have been 1000 times better, but I go with what I've got!  Didn't matter, the kids LOVED this.  They literally devoured the pan.  This is a super easy way to use up that leftover taco meat.  All you need (in addition to the taco meat) is canned or frozen corn (we always have it on hand), milk (always in the fridge) and Bisquick (shockingly, we almost always have that on hand too!).  I typically will always make extra taco meat since it freezes so well, but this just might be our "leftover taco night" recipe every time we have tacos.  

1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
1 package of taco seasoning mix
1 c salsa (I puree it so the kids don't notice it!)
2 c frozen or canned corn
2 c bisquick mix
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
2/3 c milk

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  In a skillet cook beef over medium high heat, stirring ocassionally, until cooked through.  Drain excess grease/fat.  Stir in taco seasoning mix, salsa and corn.  Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.  Pour into an ungreased 8 inch pan or glass baking dish.

Meanwhile in a medium bowl, stir Bisquick, cheese and milk until a soft dough forms.  Drop dough by 12 spoonfuls onto beef mixture.  Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until topping is golden brown.  (I had to cover mine loosely with foil for about the last 10 minutes so it would continue cooking through without burning the biscuits.)

#1,261: Red Pepper Turkey Burger Bites

Do you ever come across a recipe and are so excited to try it, and then get even more excited because you happen to have all of the ingredients on hand?!  No?  Maybe that's just me...hopefully not though.  I was so, so, so eager to try this recipe and it did not dissapoint!  The only thing that may have made it better was if I had a little bit of cheese on top, but it certainly tasted exceptional as is.  I added the pickle piece to give it some tang and crunch and it totally made this burger even better.  I'm hoping it reheats ok because I have a lot of burger leftover and plan to eat it again for lunch tomorrow...unless I end up eating it for dinner tonight instead. :)

You might want to keep a little closer eye on your burgers than I did...as you can see from the picture it is very well done, but that's how I eat mine.  Yours may be a little more undercooked.  LOL
1 lb of your favorite burger recipe mixture.  (see below for my burger ingredients)
2-3 bell peppers, cut into wedges
Optional: cheese, pickles, favorite burger toppings and condiments, etc.

Depending on the size of your pepper wedges, take about 2 tbsp of raw burger mixture and form into a small patty and place on top of the pepper.  Continue until all of the peppers have been filled.  If you want to add cheese, you can place a slice of cheese on top at this point as well.

Grill over medium-high INDIRECT heat for about 20 minutes.  Remove from heat and top with a slice of pickle if desired.

My burger mixture ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
1/4 red onion, diced
1 tbsp minced garlic
salt and pepper
2 tbsp worchestershire sauce
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 egg white

#1,260: Paleo Cottage Pie

I've been looking to make some form of Shepard's Pie for a while now but kept putting it off.  Then I was looking for a hearty comfort food to make for lunch and dinner for the next few days and decided it was time to give this recipe a try.  I made a few minor changes to the recipe just to give the meat mixture more flavor.  I was able to throw this together pretty quickly too, which is a huge added bonus.  This was delicious!  I absolutely loved it and will definitely be making this again. Next time though I might add some chopped zucchini or spinach to make it even healthier. 

1 1/2 lbs ground beef (I used ground turkey)
1 large head cauliflower
7 cloves roasted garlic
8 oz mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 small onion, chopped3 Tbsp Dijon mustard

I also added:
   1/2 can of petite diced tomatoes

   2-3 tbsp worchestershire sauce
   1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
   1/2 tsp dried parsley

Trim the core and leaves off the cauliflower.  Cut the cauliflower into florets and steam until tender.  Add the cauliflower and the roasted garlic to a blender and blend until smooth.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Heat 1-2 Tbsp of oil (I used ghee) in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add the carrots, onions, and mushrooms and cook for 5-6 minutes or until tender.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.  Set aside.  Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through (add the worchestershire sauce and dried seasonings).  Add the cooked veggies, petite diced tomatoes and the Dijon mustard to the skillet and stir to combine.  Pour the meat mixture into a 9″ inch baking dish and top with a layer of the mashed roasted garlic cauliflower.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

#1,259: Asian Meatballs

I will admit, I love a good meatball, and it doesn't just have to be served over spaghetti noodles or in a sub!  These Asian Meatballs were SO good I've already made them twice and they are on my menu again soon.  I love that I can make these ahead of time and they reheat quickly for lunches or dinner.  

1 pound lean ground pork (I used ground turkey)
2 green onions, very thinly sliced (dark green tops excluded)
2 teaspoons coconut aminos
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon fish sauce (I omitted)
Sea salt, to taste
1–2 Tablespoons coconut oil (I omitted since I baked them)
I also added about 6 large spinach leaves chopped finely

Combine the pork (turkey), green onions, coconut aminos, sesame oil, spinach and fish sauce in a medium bowl. Mix until everything is combined but not over-mixed because that will make the meat tough.

Roll the meat into balls small balls, about 1 tbsp. I cooked mine in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through cooking time. 

If you prefer to pan fry your meatballs: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil. Add the meatballs in a single layer, being careful not to crowd them. Brown on all sides. Repeat with the remainder of the batch.

Road Tripping...Paleo Style

MOST of the food that came with me on our road trip...

Recently we went on a 3 day road trip with the kids through Iowa.  For weeks I tried to plan and organize what I would eat on my Food Fuels plan that would keep me on plan but not have me eating a plain ole' salad for lunch and dinner each day.  I searched pinterest and google trying to find ideas on foods I could take with me.  In the end I ended up bringing a few simple ingredients that would stay cold in a cooler, but would help me if I couldn't find something to eat at our next stops.  I was thrilled that I was able to stay on my plan 100% plus I came home and lost another 2 lbs! So in case there is anyone else out there looking for road trip food ideas, here's what I did and that worked for me. 


First things first:
Pack everything in mason jars!!  I was so afraid my foods were all going to freeze by sitting in a cooler of ice for several days.  Not one thing froze!  My foods never got ruined from the melting water, and even some of my jars were completely submerged in the ice/water and still they stayed dry and cold. 
The only down fall to this is that once a jar is empty, you still have to lug it through your trip with you.  Not a big deal to me, but something to consider.

Next, I probably should put a slight disclaimer...I like to eat my foods cold.  Meatballs, taco meat, turkey burger, whatever.  Yes that's so weird, but it comes in handy when you can't find a microwave or another way to heat up your food!

So what did I bring with me?
Apples
Blueberries
Strawberries
Grapes 
1 gallon of drinking water
Mio Water (flavored drink mix)
Individual bags of cashews (Nice brand from Walgreens)
Power Crunch Bars (delish!)
Cooked turkey bacon chopped
Balsamic chicken salad
Asian meatballs
Shredded Brussel sprouts
Roasted cauliflower and red onion
(Packets of tuna and mustard would be great on this trip too and almost made it into my bag)
Rapberry Balsamic Salad Dressing (1 jar)
Carrots and cucumber slices
Jicima and Bell Pepper strips

Twice, I also got a side salad and ate it with my balsamic chicken salad.  Then another day I ate out at Panera and got a Classic Salad with Chicken (balsamic dressing on the side).  It was definitely easier than I thought it would be.  Yes I pretty much ate the same meals over but it made it easier and I didn't waste any of my foods. 

Delay in Posts and Recipes....

As you have obviously noticed, I've been slow to post new recipes lately.  I have to admit, that is due to a strong committment to a new lifestyle/diet I've been doing since the first of May.  For the past year and a half I've been on and off the clean eating/paleo plans (more off than on) but since starting in May, I began a new program called Food Fuels with my coach Aaron.  It has made a huge difference in my life and in 6 weeks I have lost 24 lbs.  But...with that new lifestyle and way of eating, also comes a limit to the number of new recipes I'm able to try and make lately.  Since I'm not eating the same foods as my family (usually) I've been letting them have more simple recipes (which they prefer and love) like spaghetti, grilled meats, breakfast for dinner, pizza, etc.  I find it easier to stick to my plan and foods if I spend less time in the kitchen making them new recipes that I'm not eating.

So please don't give up on me or this blog...recipes are still coming and being tried, just not necessarily as fast as I was.  Maybe that's a good thing though.... :) 

#1,258: Clean Eating Cauliflower Hash

Actually, the name of this recipe that I found was Cauliflower Fritters.  But I used less eggs in mine and it would not stay together.  So instead of tossing it, I just used a spatula and made it into a hash.  It was still delicious.  :)

Here's the recipe to the fritters:

2 c cooked cauliflower
3 eggs, or 6 egg whites (I used 2 egg whites)
1 tsp dried tarragon (I used dried basil)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil for cooking (I used a little bit of ghee)

In a large mixing bowl, mash all ingredients together (except olive oil) with a potato masher.  It can be slightly lumpy.  Put a small amount of oil in a skillet (unless using a non-stick pan) and cook like you would a pancake.  OR...do what I did, and throw it on a griddle and mash it all up to turn into a hash! 

#1,257: Pizza Balls

Oh my goodness, did my family LOVE this recipe.  I used 2 cans of Grands buttermilk biscuits and this made enough for them to eat for dinner one day and for lunch again the next day.  (I got 15 biscuits squished into the pan).  They took a lot longer to cook though because of the Grands size.  I had to cover them with foil loosely half-way through so the tops wouldn't burn.  Didn't matter to my family though because the devoured them.  I made most with just ground turkey, but a few had pieces of pepperoni for my 5 year old.  :) 

The original recipe for this was supposed to be for bacon cheeseburger balls, but my husband wouldn't have eaten them.  So I just changed them to be pizza flavor.  Here is the link to the original recipe for bacon cheeseburger balls.

Here's how I made these pizza balls:

2 cans of Grands biscuits
1/2 cup (or slightly more) shredded mozzarella
3/4 -1 lb ground turkey (or beef)
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves, minced garlic
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 jar pizza sauce
2 egg whites, beaten
parmesan cheese, grated

Additional filling: black olives, diced peppers, diced tomatoes, pepperoni, etc.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a pan cook the onion and ground turkey until cooked through and no longer pink.  When ground meat is done, add in garlic, Italian seasoning and pizza sauce.  Continue cooking for about 2 minutes, until heated through.  Add in mozzarella and stir to combine.  You can also add in any additional filling ingredients at this point.  Stir well to combine all ingredients.
Flatten refrigerator biscuits and top them with about 1 heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture/filling.  I put as much filling as I could without breaking the biscuit as I tried to close it.  Gather the edges up around the toppings and pinch together at the top. Place the pizza balls into a greased pie pan with the seam on the bottom. Brush the tops with a beaten egg white.  Sprinkle the tops with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the dough is cooked through.  

#1,256: Paleo Enchilada "Pasta"

I have tried and tried to enjoy spaghetti squash but have often not been successful.  I might enjoy it for one meal but then not the next.  I won't give up on this stuff though!  So when I found this recipe for enchilada "pasta" it looked too good not to try.  

Happily, I really loved this pasta.  Even Matthew ate a little bit of it (but only b/c he was eating it out of my bowl and thought he was being sneaky.  Whatever...he ate it! I changed up the recipe just a little bit to make it healthier but I still loved it.  I will definitely make this again. 

Sauce
1 medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 large organic tomatoes, remove stems (I used a can of petite diced tomatoes)
2 tbls ghee
3 tbls chili powder
1 tbls cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp oregano
1/2 cup chicken stock
Meat
1 tbls ghee (I omitted)
2 lbs ground beef
1 can hatch chilies, mild or hot (I used a can of diced green chilies)
Extras
4 eggs, whisked (I omitted)
5lb spaghetti squash or 2.5 lb, cut in half an deseeded

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cook spaghetti squash on a baking sheet rind side up for 20 minutes. (I had to cook mine for about 40 min).  Remove and turn oven down to 350 degrees. Once cooled, run a fork lengthwise to create noodles.
For the sauce, pulverize tomatoes in a blender (I did not do this step). In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons ghee and cook onions until they turn light brown. Add in garlic and cook until fragrant. Mix in spices and cook for 30 seconds. Add in pureed tomatoes (petite diced) and chicken stock. Bring to a boil then simmer for 10-15 minutes.
In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon ghee (I omitted) then add in meat. Brown meat then toss in hatch chilies. In an extra large bowl, mix together meat, spaghetti squash noodles and sauce. Then stir in eggs (I omitted). Place in a large greased baking dish or two small dishes. Bake for 50-60 minutes.
Garnish with cilantro and serve with salsa.

#1,255: Stuffed Pepper-Tomato Soup

I found a recipe for stuffed peppers served IN tomato soup, but I do not like peppers cooked whole so I changed this recipe a little bit to make it an all-in-one dish.  I absolutely loved this soup and have been enjoying eating it as a meal or as a side to something else.  So simple, so delicious.  

Here is the link to the original recipe which I altered.

Stuffed Pepper-Tomato Soup
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 c chicken broth
1/2 onion chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp basil
2 tsp oregano
3 bell peppers (any color) diced
1/2 lb ground turkey
4 oz mushrooms, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, combine the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth.  Turn heat to low and simmer the sauce while the ground turkey is cooking and you are chopping the rest of your vegetables.  Sautee onion and ground turkey until turkey is cooked through, breaking into smaller pieces as it cooks.  Just before the turkey is finished cooking add the garlic, basil, oregano, peppers and mushrooms.  Stir to combine and continue cooking for the final few minutes until the ground turkey is done.  Add the turkey/vegetable mixture to the tomato soup and stir to combine.  Season with salt and pepper. 

Turk the heat on the tomato mixture up to medium-high and bring to a low boil.  When it begins to bubble, turn the heat down to medium and continue cooking until peppers are slightly softened and flavors have combined (about 20 minutes).  

#1,254: Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Sorry, I couldn't find my camera at the time (I left it in the car!) so I had to use my iPhone instead.  :(  This was a delicious dinner that we all enjoyed.  The kids personally liked their pork on bread and made little sandwiches.  It was easy and so good.  I will definitely be making this again for us.  This is simple, yet slightly elegant, so this would be a great meal to serve when company is coming over. 

3-4 lbs pork tenderloin (I used about 1 1/2 lbs I think for our family of 5)
2 tbsp coconut oil
sea salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp herbs de Provence
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Heat the coconut oil in a cast iron skillet (or other oven safe skillet) over high heat on the stove top.

Season all sides of the pork with sea salt, pepper, garlic powder and herbs de Provence.
When the oil is hot, sear the pork on all sides until evenly brown. The pork should sizzle when you put it in the pan! If it doesn't, it's not hot enough. Searing the meat will lock in the moisture so don't skip this step!

When the pork is browned, remove it from the pan and add in the onions and peppers. Season with sea salt and pepper.  Add the pork back in to the skillet. The onions and peppers serve as a bed so the pork doesn't burn.  Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast uncovered for 20 minutes.

Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest before slicing for 10-15 minutes.
While the pork is roasting, make the balsamic glaze. In a small saucepan, heat the balsamic vinegar over medium heat. Let it simmer until it has reduced by half. As you let it cool, it will thicken.  Drizzle the glaze over the pork or serve on the side as a dipper! Enjoy!

PS: I served this with pureed cauliflower with onion and turkey bacon, and mixed baby greens w/pomegrante vinegar.  Ooh, was it all delicious! 

#1,253: Quick Skillet Steak with Onions and Mushrooms

I never in a million years, thought that not only would I like this, but my kids would too.  Granted most of them enjoyed their steak between two thin pieces of Italian loaf bread, but hey, they ate it (minus the onions and mushrooms of course). Really enjoyed this too and ate it over my kale and brussel sprouts.  Yum.  The kids even requested it again for tomorrow!  So, so easy to make!!

1/2 lb thin cut beef round sandwich steaks (I used flat steaks)
1/2 large onion, sliced into rings
1/2 tsp olive oil
8 oz sliced mushrooms
cooking spray (I used a little bit of olive oil)
garlic powder to taste
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Slice beef into thin strips. Season with salt, garlic powder and fresh pepper to taste. Heat a large skillet over high heat. When the skillet is very hot, spray with cooking spray and add half of the beef. Cook one minute, then turn steak and cook an additional 30 seconds. Set aside in a large dish.

Spray the skillet again and when it gets hot add the remaining steak, cooking one minute, then turning and cooking 30 seconds more. Add remaining steak to the dish. 

Return skillet to heat and spray once again with cooking spray; add onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook one minute, then turn and cook onions an additional 30 seconds or until onions are golden.

Lower heat to medium and add 1/2 tsp olive oil to the skillet, add mushrooms, salt and pepper and lightly spray the top of the mushrooms with cooking spray. Cook 1 1/2 minutes,then turn mushrooms and cook another minute and a half. Add to dish with steak and onions and stir to combine. Serve over rice.

#1,252: Picadillo

I don't know what this recipe means, or how it got it's odd name, but I like it!  Granted I left off the olives so that would completely change the flavor, but I still like it.  I'm going to be eating this over kale and shaved brussel sprouts, but this would be really good over rice or on potatoes too.  Or just as is (like I'm sure it's intended to be!).

3 lbs ground beef (I used ground turkey)
1 tablespoon ghee 
2 small onions, chopped 
4 cloves, garlic crushed 
½ cup beef stock 
4 chopped tomatoes (I used a can of petite diced)
2 tbsp tomato paste 
1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped 
1 bell pepper, chopped (I omitted...but will add in next time!) 
½ lb pitted green olives (I omitted) 
1 tsp dried oregano 
1 tsp dried basil 
1 tsp cumin 
Salt and pepper just before serving

Heat ghee over medium in a heavy pan and saute onions for 5 minutes or until translucent.  Turn heat to medium high, add the garlic and the meat. Brown the meat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the onions and garlic don’t burn.  Place meat, garlic and onions in the slow cooker with all the other ingredients, except the olives.  Cook on low 6-8 hours. Add olives in the last hour of cooking. Salt and pepper to taste.

#1,251: Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad

This recipe was supposed to have bacon and Pecorino cheese on it.  Both of which are my favorite things and would seriously make this salad even better.  But I didn't want to start making bacon and I currently am not eating cheese so I was left to add just a tiny bit of cashews and red onion on mine.  It was still really, really good.  I will be eating this again tomorrow, so that's a good sign!  But if you make this, please add the bacon and cheese....you will thank me for it! 

For dressing:
2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs dijon mustard
1 tsp shallot, finely minced
1 small clove garlic, finely minced
1/8 tsp kosher salt
Pinch black pepper
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil

For salad:
2-3 c thinly sliced kale (approx 1/2 a bunch)
1 lb brussels sprouts, finely shredded using a mandolin or sharp knife
3-4 slices turkey bacon, baked and chopped
1/4 c roasted almonds, chopped
1/2 c Pecorino cheese, finely grated

Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix. Add in olive oil, whisking until combined.  Mix sliced kale and shaved brussels sprouts in a large bowl. Throw in bacon, almonds, and cheese. Pour dressing over the top and toss salad until all ingredients are distributed throughout.

#1,250: Cashew Beef Stirfry

I honestly wasn't sure I was going to like this meal, but I not only like it, I LOVE it.  I've eat it 3 times already now.  I've been cutting out/omitting the cashews though because I'm trying to cut down on my cashew consumption!  :)  This is so easy to make too. 

1½ lbs grass fed ground beef (I used ground turkey)
1 large bell pepper, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
1 can water chestnuts, drained and sliced
½ cup raw cashews (toast on a dry pan for a few minutes until browned)
2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tbsp fresh garlic, grated
4 tbsp coconut aminos
salt and pepper to taste

Stir fry beef until lightly browned.  Add ginger, garlic and coconut aminos. Saute until fragrant.  Add bell pepper, onions and water chestnuts. Cook until vegetables are soft.  Adjust seasonings by adding salt and pepper.  Turn off heat and mix in toasted cashews.

#1,249; Radish and Cucumber Salad

I am a new lover of radishes.  I even planted them in my garden this year and they are growing the fastest and the best (so far!).  So I was excited to try this salad.  It is super easy and I really enjoyed it.  I will definitely be making this again this summer! 

12 radishes w/tops (radishes sliced thinly; tops washed, sliced thinly and reserved) (I omitted the tops)
1 English cucumber, washed and cut into thin rounds
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 c rice vinegar
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
In a large bowl toss the radish and cucumber slices w/salt.  Toss with vinegar, olive oil, and lime juice.  Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.  Just before serving fold in radish tops. 

#1,248: Pink Velvet Salad

This photo does not even come close to doing this recipe justice!  I think everyone should make this dessert/side dish and stick it in their freezer so you have it ready for when unexpected company comes over this summer.  I made this for a birthday party and put the leftovers in a big bowl for my family to eat and my kids enjoyed this for several days afterwards.  They all loved it and literally cheered when they saw it on their plates.  It may not be super healthy, but it sure is delicious!!

16 oz cherry pie filling
13.5 oz crushed pineapple
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
13.5 oz cool whip
2 c mini marshmallows
1 c pecans (optional) (I omitted)

In a large bowl mix all of the ingredients together in the order listed.  Transfer to a 9x13 baking dish and freeze.  Serve frozen.  

#1,247: Oven Roasted Artichokes

Sorry no photo...I can't find it on my camera!

The only way I’ve ever eaten a fresh artichoke, if when my aunt stuffs it with breadcrumbs and bakes it.  It’s delicious, but I was always intimidated by this veggie and figured it wasn’t worth my time or effort to make.  Then I went grocery shopping this weekend and artichokes were 49 cents each!  How can you pass that up?!  Obviously I didn’t.  So I found this recipe which roasts it in the oven.  It was very, very easy to put together, but it takes over an hour to bake.  A little long in my opinion, but VERY worth the wait.  This was DELICIOUS.  I can’t wait to make it again.  I’ll probably make it several times this week.  I made the girls try it, and they ate it because I made them, but they didn’t really like it.  We’ll try it again though and see if I can convert them into artichoke fans. 

1 artichoke (or more if you want to make several at a time)
Olive oil

3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 Lemon
Salt

Slice off the top third of the artichoke with a sharp knife.  Next, cut off the stem right at the base of the artichoke.  Next tear off a large square of heavy duty aluminum foil, drizzle it with a few drops of olive oil, and smear it around a bit.  Place one artichoke in the middle of the foil and open up the leaves a bit with your fingers.  Tuck a few peeled garlic cloves into the artichoke.  Sprinkle kosher salt all over it then squeeze lemon juice and drizzle olive oil over the top.  I used half a lemon per artichoke and probably drizzled a tablespoon or so of oil (maybe more).

Once you’ve seasoned it, wrap the foil up around the artichoke, sealing it well.  If you don’t have heavy duty aluminum foil, wrap it with an extra sheet of the regular kind.  Repeat with as many artichokes as you want.  Place wrapped artichokes in a pan and roast in a preheated 425 degree oven for one hour and 15 minutes.  If you are using small artichokes, one hour is good.  Jumbo artichokes might take an hour and a half.

After removing them from the oven, let artichokes sit until cool enough to handle, then unwrap.  The garlic will be soft and sweet and delicious – you’ll probably want to eat that first.

Next, start peeling off the leaves one by one, and enjoy the garlicky, lemony, salty olive oil as you scrape each one with your teeth. 

#1,246: Taco Sweet Potato Bites

This recipe came from a love of two different recipes and ideas.  I had leftover taco meat which had peppers, spinach and petite diced tomatoes in it and I had sweet potatoes needing to be used.  So I sliced the sweet potatoes and roasted them in the oven and then topped them with the taco mixture.  Oh my is was delicious!!  Love!  Love! Love it!!  I had to stop buying sweet potatoes so I stopped eating these.  Otherwise I could literally eat it for every meal.  :)

Wash and thinly slice your sweet potatoes.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Lightly brush some olive oil (or use olive oil spray) on top of the sweet potatoes.  Roast in a 425 degree oven for about 40 minutes, flipping once.  Be careful to keep an eye on your sweet potatoes so they don't burn.  The thicker the slices, the longer it will take to cook.

In the meantime, heat up leftover taco meat so it is hot when the sweet potatoes come out of the oven.  When the potato slices are done, top with the taco mixture and enjoy.